Present: Adams, Banach, Barker, Brewer, Brigham, Domier, Gross, Luce, McDermott, Misra, Phillis, Phillips, Schmalzer, Smethurst

Staff: Gallagher, Reardon, Wulkan                

Absent: Ash, Brandt, Danai, Gubrium, Levine, McGinty, Paynter,

1.         Minutes of October 21, 2009

            Approved unanimously

2.         Announcements

            a) Political Outreach Committee

                        Next meeting 11/18/09

                        MTA endorsed Capuano for US Senator

                        John Brigham spoke to head of State Democratic Party about public higher education at Obama/Patrick event

                        MTA Higher Ed Conference 12/4-12/5 – MSP will help defray costs

b) MTA Grassroots Regional Action Training for Local leaders  11/16 in Holyoke

c) PHENOM Speak-out/Teach-in – personal stories about how the budget crisis affects students, staff, faculty, administrators – 11/19 Noon in Cape Cod Lounge

            d) NEASC Accreditation

                 Committee has heard how unhappy faculty are about lack of 2-way communication with administration; they’ve also heard worries about the budget and the ability to hire faculty.  Board members are encouraged to attend meetings and contribute.

3.         9-C Cuts and the Budget

            The Governor cut about 7-1/4% from the UMass budget, replacing it with federal funds for this year.  There are 2 major negative consequences:

            a) Fringe benefits not paid by federal funds, so UMass out about $8 million

            b) UMass starts at a lower level next year.

            Randy attended a PHENOM meeting with Pres. Wilson – among the items discussed were:

• Capital projects: Wilson says stopping them saves little money; MSP now has information we have requested so we can analyze this
• Possibility of 2^nd federal stimulus package – this requires a major national political effort; we will contact NEA to see if there is any real possibility
• How to increase state revenues and how to find other sources of funds for UMass

 
4.         Workload

            MSP has begun bargaining over the Gen Ed switch to 4 credits and will soon start bargaining over Distance Education.  These will both have major impact and we already see the administration taking unacceptable positions (e.g. 4 credits don’t require more work than 3 credits; only consider student contact hours when assessing teaching workload; GEO members don’t work enough and can be made to do more).

            Board members discussed specific proposals being discussed in their departments to generating more money and attract more students.  The overall trends seemed to be:

• More work without appreciation of increased effort
• Increase in reliance on CPE
• Attract students and money whatever it takes

Related topics addressed in the discussion included:

            Effort reporting and effort certification

            How will the administration monitor new initiatives

            The role of the Faculty Senate

            The administration may try to divide tenure system from contract faculty

MSP will keep bargaining over Gen. Ed. and other changes by including a formula for workload.  We recognize that our effort will require more than bargaining, and we are preparing to move to a more public mode.  We will be preparing to engage our members in a more active campaign around workload.